Core Insights - The article discusses the tumultuous development of China's energy storage industry over the past decade, highlighting the rapid rise and fall of numerous companies, leading to a chaotic market environment [2] - China currently holds a dominant position in the global energy storage supply chain, with significant market shares in battery shipments (87%), anode/cathode materials (90%), electrolyte (over 85%), and lithium battery separators (over 80%) [2] - The industry is experiencing a shift from a blue ocean to a red ocean competition within a short span of three years, driven by aggressive capital investment and production expansion, resulting in price wars and a new phase of market reshuffling [2] Industry Growth and Challenges - As of September 2025, the number of energy storage-related companies in China has exceeded 380,000, a 33.55-fold increase from 11,000 a decade ago [3] - Over the period from 2022 to 2024, more than 200 major energy storage projects with investments exceeding 1.5 trillion yuan (approximately 210 billion USD) have been announced, with planned energy storage capacity exceeding 2800 GWh [3] Financial Health and Debt Concerns - By June 2025, the total liabilities of over 110 listed companies in the energy storage sector reached 1.79 trillion yuan (approximately 250 billion USD), marking an 11.86% year-on-year increase [4] - The overall debt ratio stands at 57.74%, with short-term interest-bearing liabilities totaling 378.2 billion yuan (approximately 53 billion USD), reflecting a 25.86% year-on-year increase [4] - Excluding major players like CATL, many smaller companies are facing severe financial difficulties, with a net asset value of -55.4 billion yuan (approximately -7.7 billion USD) [4][5] Market Dynamics and Survival Risks - As of June 2025, 15 listed energy storage companies reported asset-liability ratios exceeding 70% and negative net asset values, indicating significant financial pressure [5] - Nearly 30,000 energy storage companies are in abnormal statuses such as cancellation or suspension, with over 3,200 companies established for only one year [5] - The ongoing "cell shortage crisis" has further strained smaller companies, with 38.7% forced to reduce production and 15.2% temporarily halting operations due to extended delivery times for energy storage cells [5] Sustainable Development Assessment - The 24潮产业研究院 (TTIR) emphasizes the importance of assessing the sustainable development capabilities of Chinese energy storage companies for stakeholders including operators, creditors, investors, and government [6] - Starting in 2025, TTIR will release a ranking of the top 20 Chinese energy storage companies based on their sustainable development capabilities across six primary dimensions [6]